mamihlapinatapai

英語

詞源

來自雅加語詞mamihlapinatapai，吉尼斯世界紀錄將其列為「最簡潔的詞」，解作「互相看著對方，希望對方先開始做一件兩邊都想做、但不願意做的事情」。

本詞規則派生自動詞ihlvpi /iɬəpi/（“感到尷尬；不知所措”）：ma[m]-（自反/相互）+ ihlvpi + :n[a]-（靜態）+ -at[a]-（使役）+ -a:pai（雙數）。字面意思大概為“讓兩人都感到尷尬”。

名詞

mamihlapinatapai (複數 mamihlapinatapais)

1. 所有參與人都想進行某件事，但沒有人去做。
   • 2008, Jennifer Ackerman, Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream: A Day in the Life of Your Body[1]:

     By contrast, if that same face looks away from us, the activity in this area diminishes, lire heightened dopamine activity is not rooted in the attractiveness of the gazer per se, but in the potential for interaction signaled by eye contact, mamihlapinatapei.

   • 2008, Len Fisher, Rock, Paper, Scissors: Game Theory in Everyday Life, page 77:

     The Volunteer's Dilemma, or mamihlapinatapai, is a game of Chicken with many participants.

   • 2012, Mark Forsyth, The Horologicon: A Day's Jaunt through the Lost Words of the English language[2]:

     As two people stand at a doorway each gesturing 'After you', that is mamihlapinatapai.

   • 2013, V. S. Atbay, Epiphany - A Collection of Poems[3]:

     We knew of this, the secret language grew between my yearning, between her submission, temporary and fleeting, only to be caught again. And there was that word; Mamihlapinatapai

   • 2013, Koren Zailckas, Mother, Mother: A Novel[4]:

     Mamihlapinatapai. A naming word. It meant the wordless, yet meaningful look shared by two people who both desire to initiate something but are both reluctant to start.